AUGUSTA – Jack Nicklaus’ son Steve, who lost his 17-month-old son in a hot tub accident last month but talked his dad into playing the Masters this week, said his father would “find some game” for the tournament.

And for a while yesterday, Nicklaus’ game looked in terrific shape as he played the first six holes in even par. He struggled a bit from there, though, finishing 4-over-par through 12 holes.

“I’m glad to be here,” Nicklaus said. “I haven’t played a tournament in 10 months.”

Nicklaus, who has 24 holes to play today in an effort to make the cut, lamented, “I have enough trouble walking 18 holes.”

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There was a minor rules infraction scare with Tiger Woods yesterday as Woods was summoned to the rules trailer to watch film of a tap-in putt he made on No. 14. Rule 16-e in the Rules of Golf states: “The player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line before the ball.”

Augusta National chairman of the competition committee Will Nicholson Jr. said in a statement, “We reviewed the tape with Tiger of his second putt on No. 14 and the tape was inconclusive. No penalty will be assessed.”

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Nick Faldo, a two-time Masters winner, pulled out of tournament with a pulled muscle in his back, which he described as a “niggling problem.”

“It’s just gone tight and I can’t make a back swing or a follow-through, so I think I’m in trouble,” Faldo said after withdrawing after eight holes at 4-over-par.

Faldo didn’t depart without showing some sense of humor.

“I’m going to go hang upside down like a fruit bat or something to try and stretch it out,” he said. “I guess it’s peach cobbler time. That’s what you come to Georgia for, isn’t it?”

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David Duval, 2001 British Open winner and former No. 1 player in the world, last made a cut in a major in 2002. Duval, who’s been in the throes of a colossal slump with his game, actually had the lead at 2-under-par through six holes, but finished with a 3-over-par 75.

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First-round play was delayed for 51/2hours yesterday because of lightning and heavy rain. It marked the ninth time in 15 PGA Tour events this season that inclement weather has adversely altered the schedule of an event. The first round is expected to be completed today.

Today’s weather forecast is for a 40-percent chance of rain with a high temperature around 70. Tomorrow is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 70 and a 20-percent chance of rain. Sunday’s final round should be under mostly sunny skies and a high of 74, with zero percent chance of rain.